Medieval Templar Sanctuary of Poggio Conte: A Captivating Retreat

In the Fiora river valley, medieval hermits carved sanctuaries of meditation and spirituality into the local tuff rock. Among these, the Eremo di Poggio Conte, also known as Chiusa dell’Armine or Romitorio San Colombanio, stands out as the most spectacular. Evidence suggests that it might have belonged to the Order of Templar Knights, although this claim remains unproven. The architecture is Gothic-Cistercian in style, and the main entrance is topped by a large circle that allows light into the church.

The church consists of two rooms: the first room's cupola features a floral design and four pillars with cubic capitels, while the apse has a flat rectangular end with three seats. The iconography within the church seems to reflect the dualism central to Templar beliefs. The site is owned by the Monastero di San Colombano and dates back to the 12th and 13th centuries. Evidence suggests the Eremo di Poggio Conte remained in use at least until the 14th century. The sanctuary is located in a remote forested valley, reachable via a single-lane gravel road.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons